PP Smit Attorneys

Verstedeliking, en die gevolglike omvang van residensiële landgoedere wat toenemend dig en bevolk word, vereis dat individue by die munisipale verordeninge en regulasies hou en hul bure in ag neem wanneer hulle sekere aktiwiteite op hul eiendomme uitvoer. Dit gebeur soms dat iemand hul eiendom op ‘n manier gebruik wat die gebruik en genot van iemand anders wat naby woon, negatief beïnvloed. Sulke gedrag kan moontlik as ‘n “oorlas” beskou word en die benadeelde party kan sekere regstappe neem.

‘n Oorlas kan gedefinieer word as ‘n gebeurtenis waar ‘n persoon wat ‘n stuk grond okkupeer, ‘n stand van sake skep, of toelaat dat sodanige toedrag van sake bestaan, wat ‘n persoon wat ‘n ander stuk grond beset, onredelik, onbillik en wesenlik steur of irriteer. Die toets om vas te stel of ‘n oorlas strafbaar is en die benadeelde regtens kan optree, is ‘n objektiewe toets, en hierdie toets bepaal of  ‘n sekere oorlas vir ‘n normale persoon met gesonde gewoontes ondraaglik is of nie. Die standaard wat toegepas word, is nie dié van ‘n “perverse, besondere of oormatige persoon” nie, aangesien ‘n mens bereid moet wees om een ​​of ander ongemak of ongerief te verduur wat uit die gebruik van ‘n naburige eiendom voortspruit. Die skending van ‘n mens se reg op die genot van jou eiendom (d.w.s. die oorlas) moet voorts aanhoudend en voortdurend plaasvind sodat sodanige inbreuk optreebaar kan wees. Slegs ‘n persoon wat die geaffekteerde eiendom besit of wettiglik sodanige eiendom okkupeer, sal locus standi hê om regstappe in te stel.

‘n Interdik is gewoonlik die gepaste middel. Só ‘n interdik kan óf verbiedend wees (waar die skuldige persoon weerhou word om iets te doen), óf dit kan ‘n verpligte interdik wees (waar ‘n persoon verplig word om ‘n sekere handeling te verrig). Skadevergoeding vir ongerief of ongemak is nie beskikbaar as ‘n remedie vir beswaarde persone nie en werklike skade sal bewys moet word indien geëis word.

Daar is ook ‘n paar verwere beskikbaar vir ‘n verweerder in ‘n oorlas-aangeleentheid. Die erkende verweer is:

  1. Die handeling is gedoen in die behoorlike en redelike uitoefening van die verweerder se eiendomsreg.
  2. Geen redelike praktiese stappe kon geneem word om die versteuring te voorkom nie.
  3. Die handeling is deur die wet toegelaat en kon nie gedoen word sonder om die steurnis of vooroordeel waaroor gekla word, te veroorsaak nie.
  4. Die verweerder het deur verjaring die reg verkry om die handeling te verrig.

Die verweerder sal gewoonlik die onus dra om bogenoemde verwere te bewys.

Lesers word aangeraai om ‘n regsadviseur te raadpleeg indien hulle verontrief voel deur aktiwiteite wat deur persone op naburige eiendomme uitgevoer word. Die meriete kan dan beoordeel word, en ‘n aansoek kan voor die toepaslike hof gebring word om jou regte te beskerm. ‘n Dringende aansoek om ‘n interdik kan ook voor die hof gebring word, in welke geval ‘n reël nisi toegestaan sal word.

Bronnelys:

Amler’s Precedents of Pleadings, 8ste weergawe 

Hierdie artikel is ‘n algemene inligtingsblad en moet nie as regs- of ander professionele advies gebruik of staatgemaak word nie. Geen aanspreeklikheid kan aanvaar word vir enige foute of weglatings of vir enige verlies of skade wat voortspruit uit vertroue op enige inligting hierin nie. Kontak altyd jou adviseur vir spesifieke en gedetailleerde advies. Foute en weglatings uitgesluit (E&OE).

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Carla Cloete

Partner | Attorney, Conveyancer & Notary | LLB

Carla obtained her LLB at the North West University, Potchefstroom Campus in 2015. She completed her articles in 2017 with Brits Dreyer Inc in Bellville. She is an admitted Attorney, Notary and Conveyancer. After her articles she relocated to Kimberley where she worked as a professional assistant in the Conveyancing department of Van de Wall Inc. Coming back to her Western Cape roots, she now joins the PP Smit team as a professional assistant.

Carien Hamman

Attorney & Notary | LLB

Carien grew up and matriculated in the picturesque town of Ceres, whereafter she furthered her studies at the University of Stellenbosch and obtained her LLB degree in 2015. She completed her articles at VanderSpuy Cape Town in 2017 and stayed on as an associate litigant after being admitted as an attorney during early 2018. Carien loves the countryside and thus ventured back to Ceres where she joined Joubert Van Vuuren Inc. for a year. However, when she was presented with the opportunity to enjoy both the country- and the seaside, she couldn’t resist and joined PP Smit Attorneys at the beginning of 2022 as an avid litigator. When she is not at the office, Carien enjoys long walks, wine tasting, and exploring the area with her family and friends.

Harmann Potgieter

Attorney | LLB | NQF 7

Harmann graduated in 2018 with an LLB degree from the North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus. He went on to study and grow in various fields, including doing a course on the Consumer Protection Act and a course at the University of South Africa where he obtained his NQF 7 Certificate in the Administration of Deceased Estates.

Harmann completed his articles of clerkship at Swemmer & Levin under the supervision of Mr Richard Phillips. After being admitted as an attorney in 2020, Harmann continued with PP Smit Attorneys as a professional assistant in the deceased estates department as well as the litigation department. He loves to study, possesses a deep curiosity about the world, and is dedicated to giving back to the community.

Andre van der Walt

Partner | Attorney | LLB

Andre graduated in 2015 with an LLB degree from the University of Pretoria. He later went on to obtain his NQF 7 Certificate in the Administration of Deceased Estates from the University of South Africa, which allowed him to further his career in deceased estates and the drafting of wills and trusts. Andre served his articles at Barnard & Patel Attorneys under the supervision of Mr YAS Patel. After being admitted as an attorney in 2016, he continued working at Barnard & Patel Attorneys as a professional assistant in the deceased estates department.

Andre joined Van Rensburg Attorneys in 2019 and was head of the deceased estates department until 2021. He then received the opportunity to move to the West Coast, where he joined Swemmer & Levin Attorneys, and not too long after that, he grabbed the opportunity to work at PP Smit Attorneys. Andre loves travelling and enjoys the beauty that our country has to offer with his friends, family, and loved ones.

Jandré Smith

Partner | Attorney | LLB

Jandré grew up and matriculated in the small Klein Karoo town of Oudtshoorn. He furthered his studies at the North-West University in Potchefstroom, obtaining his LLB degree during 2015. He completed his articles at Swemmer & Levin in 2017 and was subsequently appointed as a professional assistant. In 2020, Jandré was promoted to the position of director of the firm, where he practices in the Litigation department. Jandré additionally joined the partnership of PP Smit Attorneys during the same year. When not practising law, Jandré is an avid sports fan. He has a passion for nature and enjoys camping, trail running, and mountain biking with his family.

Richard Phillips

Partner | Attorney | Bcom & BProc

After matriculating at Paarl Boys’ High School, Richard completed his BCom and BProc degrees at the University of Port Elizabeth. He served his articles with Van Wyk Fouchee in Paarl and quickly developed an affinity for litigation. Richard has always had a deep love for the ocean and when he was presented with an opportunity he joined the partnership of PP Smit Attorneys during 2006. Richard specialises in general litigation and divorces. When he is not in the office or with his family, he tries to spend as much time as possible in or on the water.

Johann Maree

Partner | Attorney | BA. LLB

Johann matriculated at Oudtshoorn High School and attended Stellenbosch University, where he obtained his BA Law and LLB degrees. Following his studies, he worked for three years as State Prosecutor at the Magistrate’s Court in Cape Town. Johann completed his legal training with the State Attorney in Pretoria and then moved to his hometown, Oudtshoorn, where he worked as a lawyer for a year. In 1983, he moved to Vredenburg and joined Swemmer & Levin, where after he joined the partnership of PP Smit Attorneys during 2006.. When he is not in the office, Johann enjoys cycling and in his earlier days, he used to be a long-distance junkie.

Pieter Smit

Partner | Attorney & Conveyancer | BA. LLB

Pieter obtained his BA Law degree from Stellenbosch University in 1995 and his LLB degree from the North-West University in Potchefstroom in 1998. He served his articles at Marais Muller Attorneys from 1998 to 1999 and was admitted as an attorney in 2000 and as a conveyancer in 2002. Pieter is the founder of PP Smit Attorneys, which opened its doors in 2004. He also became a director of Swemmer & Levin in 2006. Pieter loves the outdoors and participating in all forms of sport, including tennis, golf, fishing, spearfishing, scuba diving, and hiking.

Jan Fourie

Partner |  Attorney, Notary & Conveyancer | BA. LLB

Jan graduated in 1974 with a five-year BA LLB degree from the University of Stellenbosch, whereafter he was admitted as an advocate and prosecuted as such in the Cape Town and Wynberg Courts. In 1974, he joined Swemmer & Levin as the Candidate Attorney of Mr Levin (founding member) and was admitted as an attorney on 7 April 1976, as a conveyancer on 11 January 1978, and as a Notary on 19 December 1984. Since 1974, he has served in various committees, including the West Coast Chamber of Commerce, the Vredenburg School Committee, and the Malgas Lions Club. In 2004, he also joined the partnership of PP Smit Attorneys.

Furthermore, Jan was the author of the first bilingual law book, The New Debt Collecting Procedures (Die Nuwe Skuldinvorderingsprosedures), which was used by all the Magistrate Courts throughout South Africa. With the founding of the Small Claims Court in Vredenburg, Jan served as one of the first Commissioners.